Laser Eye Surgery Let Me Throw Away My Jam-Jar Specs

Every year, over 100,000 people in the UK alone discover the benefits of Laser Eye Surgery. Moreover, thanks to ongoing developments in the field, more people than ever have been suitable candidates for this life-changing procedure – even patients with high-prescription, “jam-jar” glasses.

A Serious Interference in Everyday Life

For individuals who require high-prescription glasses to see clearly, a whole lot of everyday activities can seem impossible. Take sports, for example. Choosing between clear vision and the risk of breaking your (often extremely expensive) glasses, or participating with completely obstructed vision… well, that’s no choice at all.

During active hobbies and favourite pastimes such as swimming, running, aerobics and dancing, high-prescription glasses can be a huge inconvenience. For some people, they are even a total barrier to doing certain activities.

Even something as simple as getting ready for work in the morning (applying make-up can be a particular challenge!) or for bed at night can seem like a serious chore. A choice between near blindness or manoeuvring around your glasses is surely frustrating.

Yet, for those with extremely high prescriptions, thick-lensed glasses can often seem like the only solution. The discomfort caused by contact lenses makes them only a temporary answer for correcting vision, while until relatively recently (and still among many providers), Laser Eye Surgery simply wasn’t an option.

But that is no longer the case.

Laser Eye Surgery for High Prescriptions

At the London Vision Clinic, we have been performing Laser Eye Surgery for high prescriptions for years. Our access to the latest technology (much of which is developed in collaboration with our very own Professor Dan Reinstein) means that we can treat a much higher range of prescriptions than other Laser Eye Surgery clinics.

As a result, many patients who had once thought Laser Eye Surgery wasn’t an option for them are now enjoying clear, glasses-free vision!

Turned away in the past?

Take Yvonne Cockerton, for example. In 2010, Yvonne had had enough of her -8.5 perscripion glasses, but without them, she was unable even to recognise people she knew well.

“Even with ultra-thin lenses, the glasses were thick. Without them, I would have been wearing jam jars,” she says. “I was spending almost £400 on each pair.”

Yvonne was only 13 years old when she started wearing her high-prescription specs. Having looked into Laser Eye Surgery before, she had been told that her prescription was too high for the treatment. But when planning her wedding to her fiance, Michael, Yvonne was desperate to walk down the aisle and enjoy their once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon without the barrier of glasses or contact lenses. So, she decided to look again.

“We were going on a four-week honeymoon and we planned to swim with dolphins in New Zealand and climb Sydney Harbour Bridge,” says Yvonne.

“All I could think of was how problematic it would be wearing glasses or taking contact lenses with me. I’d always be worrying about losing my glasses or a lens.”

Thankfully, while scouring the internet, Yvonne came across Professor Dan Reinstein – founder of the London Vision Clinic and expert Laser Eye Surgeon at our Harley Street clinic.

Finally, an answer to high prescriptions…

When she discovered that Dr Reinstein could treat her, Yvonne booked herself in. After surgery, the improvement was immediate. “As soon as I got up after the surgery, which didn’t hurt, I knew straight away it had worked,” she says. “Although my vision was blurred I could make out detail.”

Her sight became clear within a few days. Three months later, Yvonne’s dream came true as she walked down the aisle without glasses. “It meant everything to me,” she says. “On my honeymoon, I got to swim with dolphins. One came right up to my face and we looked each other in the eye. It was amazing.”

A year later, she made another visit to Dr Reinstein. He tweaked her eyes again and she now has 20/16 vision, which is better than average. “The two procedures and all the aftercare cost £6,500 but it was worth every penny,” she says. “There is nothing I can’t see now.”

A word from some of our more recent patients…

Yvonne is far from the only patient with a high prescription who is now enjoying the beauty of life free from glasses:

“I was extremely nervous as for many years my prescription had been deemed too difficult for surgery. I am now 55 and thought I would ask again… I had my surgery in February 2024 and whilst with a blended vision correction it does take a little time to settle down, the results are astounding. the service and aftercare are exceptional.”

– L Holder (2024)

Couldn’t be happier, I was turned away from other clinics as my prescription was too high [+6]. However London vision explained they could treat +6 so I went for the assessment and so glad I did. [Their] level of testing is night and day compared to other clinics soo much more thorough. I would not hesitate having it done again.

– Lee (2021)

“Absolutely fantastic team and a completely life changing outcome. I couldn’t recommend London Vision Clinic enough (and have in fact recommended them repeatedly to people). I had a very high degree of long-sightedness and astigmatism and the correction is nearly perfect! I still wake up each morning amazed that I can see!”

– Max (2023)

At the London Vision Clinic, we are able to treat around 98% of the people we see – even those with extremely high or complicated prescriptions. So, if you have been turned away by another clinic, don’t give up home just yet – get in touch with us and find out how we could help!

How We Treat High-Profile Prescriptions

As we mentioned earlier, at the London Vision Clinic, we’re lucky to have access to the latest techonlogy (as well as the people who help develop them) and some of the best Laser Eye Surgeons in the world. Our founder, Professor Dan Reinstein, played a central role in developing the world’s most accurate corneal scanner – Artemis Insight 100.

This advanced scanner is able to map the individual layers of the cornea to within a single micron – that’s around 1/1000th of a millimetre! This greatly enhances the accuracy and safety of Laser Eye Surgery, making it possible to treat higher prescriptions than ever before.

Dr Reinstein has performed thousands of Laser Eye Surgery procedures. He claims that it gives people previously consigned to a life wearing thick lens specs the eyesight of a fighter pilot. So, maybe it’s finally time to say “goodybe” to the jam jar glasses – the chances are we’ll be able to help you do just that!

To learn more about high-profile treatments at the London Vision Clinic, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or book a no-obligation consultation today!

Laser Eye Treatment Fees start from £6,200 for both eyes. Very complex treatments may cost more.

Interest-FREE finance available over THREE years, from £87 per month for both eyes, makes the best more flexible. Find out more.